NEW DELHI (AP) — What began as an online joke has evolved into one of the most significant protest movements in India being led by young people hoping to change the established political structure and the damage they believe the government has caused.Calling themselves the “Cockroaches,” young Indians are channeling anger over failings in the education system into a broader campaign for government accountability. In doing so, they also have mounted one of the most visible public challenges in recent years to the Hindu nationalist government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.Here is what to know:A court remark sparks a youth movementThe immediate trigger for the protests was public anger over alleged leaks of some of India’s most competitive entrance examinations for medical colleges and government jobs. The exams are a pathway to stable employment and upward social mobility for millions of Indians. The possibility that the exams have been shared in advance often force authorities to cancel or repeat tests, leaving students with months or years of lost preparation and uncertainty.
The movement began in May, when India’s Supreme Court Chief Justice Surya Kant, during an unrelated court hearing, compared some unemployed young people to “cockroaches.” The remark sparked an online backlash, prompting Boston University student Abhijeet Dipke to launch the Cockroach Janta Party, or Cockroach People’s Party.Many young Indians embraced the remark and adopted the cockroach as an emblem of resilience. The campaign exploded on social media, attracting more than 21 million Instagram followers within days. Supporters posted memes, mock campaign slogans and satirical commentary targeting Modi’s government over unemployment, limited job opportunities and economic pressures.
